Why
Foster Care?

Because even in our enlightened
community, there have always been more animals in need of
shelter than resources available to help them. Even though we no longer foster animals, we think this information is important to save. After all, our pilot
program with the Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
resulted in a provision in the Iowa Administrative Code to legalize in-home foster
care of companion animals.

One of
the advantages of our in-home FosterCare Program is that we
live with our animals 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We’ve
seen them at their best and worst. We’ve experienced
each animal as an individual with a unique combination of
attributes and needs. This results in better information for
better adoptive matches.

JCHS is licensed by the State
to foster animals in our homes. We
always did have a need for additional foster homes. Please
consider fostering an animal.

So,
Is Foster Care for Me?

Providing foster care is
like adopting an animal on a temporary basis. There is the
immediate reward of knowing that youre actively doing
something to help an animal in need, but there are a number
of other things to take into thoughtful consideration.

• Does
your lease or housing situation legally allow you to keep
pets?

• Do
the other humans in your household share your desire to provide
foster care?

• Does
your own schedule allow ample time to look after the foster
animal and consistently provide the loving attention he requires?

• Are
you committed to caring for the foster animal until she finds
a permanent home (which could take several months)?

• Will
someone be home to provide meals according to a fixed schedule?

• How
many companion animals do you already have and how accepting
toward a new addition are they likely to be?

• Are
you willing to comply with the FosterCare guidelines set by the
JCHS?

• Are
you willing and able to animal-proof the areas of
your household to which the foster animal will have access? (Consider
the placement of houseplants; window blinds; breakable items;
electrical cords; fences; areas that would provide hiding places
inaccessible to humans; etc.)

• Is
the level of attention that you regularly pay to home hygiene
consistent with that necessary to maintain a safe and behaviorally-positive
environment?

Were
all busy and everyone has their unique tolerance for disorder,
but some common situations invite bad habits at best, if not
disaster: e.g., plastic bags left on the floor not only become
magnets for cat urine, but can also suffocate an animal; even
a half-teaspoon from a puddle of antifreeze in the garage or
on the driveway can cause an agonizing death due to kidney failure.

• Are
you familiar enough with basic animal health that you would notice
if the foster animal became ill?

• Do
you have the patience and flexibility to work with an animal who
(for whatever reason) may exhibit undesirable behavior?

• Will
you be comfortable with having potential adopters come to your
home to see the animal? (Other arrangements can be made.)

• If
youre considering a puppy or a kitten, are you prepared
to spend the time it takes to learn about and apply the appropriate
age-specific methods of socializing and training the animal requires
before he reaches adolescence?

• Will
you be able to pay for the food and pet-care supplies the animal
will need in maintenance of her well-being? (Under some circumstances,
the JCHS is able to supply food.)

• Given
that the JCHS pays for veterinary care, are you able to take the
foster animal to the vet for periodic examinations and any emergency
treatment he may need?

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• Do
you have a disaster preparedness plan in place for your animals
in the event your house catches on fire; a tornado hits your property;
a flood or hazardous materials spill initiates a neighborhood
evacuation; or a blizzard isolates your home for more than a few
days? (This is an on-going process. We’ll help you get started!)

• Will
you be able to provide the loving support this animal requires
now, yet still be able to let him or her go when an appropriate
permanent home is found?

If
you could honestly answer YES! to each of these questions, chances are that your lifestyle and
level of commitment are such that you would be a responsible foster
caregiver.

What
FosterCare Entails

Legal Aspects

Our adoption
program has always had a short-term, in-home foster-care component.
The Code of Iowa specifies a number of provisions for the
care of animals in licensed facilities.

However, until recently,
state law made no provision for in-home foster care (i.e., it
was not legal. Providing in-home foster care was operating an
animal shelter without a license).

In
1995, we began working with the Iowa Department of Agriculture
and Land Stewardship and two local veterinarians to convert our
foster-care component to a licensable program.

We now have a contractual
relationship with each foster caregiver, regular site visitations
and evaluations, and annual state licensing of the JCHS as a sheltering
organization which extends to each foster home.

In April 2007,
our pilot program with the State of Iowa resulted in a provision in the Iowa Administrative Code, legalizing in-home fostercare.

Think
of JCHS as the place of last resort for animals who have or
are about to become homeless. Our case-by-case triage system
begins with the question: “Can this animal’s
needs (taking age, gender, health, temperament, and behavior
into consideration) be served anywhere or by anyone else?”

Potential
solutions could involve educational or medical resources;
increased responsibility of the owner, friends, or relatives;
the municipal animal shelter; commercial boarding; etc. These
potential solutions must be exhausted before the next question: “Does
JCHS have the resources to help?” is asked.

JCHS resources
could involve an equipment loan, a behavior or animal communication
consult, money for emergency veterinary care in the form of
a gift or loan, fostercare in an appropriate home, etc.

Preparing
Your Household

We are all
creatures of habit and most of us are somewhat resistant to change.
Stressful reactions to change are common in human and non-human
animals alike. Even changes
viewed as positive can cause stress.

Bringing
a new animal into your home is a stressful event that will alter
the balance of your family at least temporarily.

Already
Have Pets?

Providing
in-home foster care puts existing pets at risk for contagious
diseases, internal and external parasites, and stress-related
conditions. Be sure that your companions are in good health and
that vaccinations are current.

Dont
even think about fostering an animal if one of your permanent
residents is ill or has a persistent health or behavior problem.
Its your ethical responsibility to ensure the health maintenance
of your companion animals.

Minimum
Provisions for Dogs

Ongoing
Health Maintenance for Your Pets

• schedule
fecal exams every six months and treat as necessary (providing
separate food/water dishes and yards/litter boxes/scoops, until
the risk of internal parasites is past and the fecal recheck
is negative)

About Intestinal Parasites

Tape worms
and lung worms can usually be eradicated with one worming. Round
worms (and sometimes hook worms and whip worms) require a second
and sometimes a third worming at 14-day intervals to kill the
larvae.

Animals with internal parasites should not share litter
boxes/scoops/yards with uninfested animals for at least 14 days
or until a fecal sample tests negative.

Chemical Flea Treatment for Your Home Is Not Always Necessary

Chemicals
used to kill fleas are toxic and must be used with care. Using
some flea collars in conjunction with sprays, or powders can
be fatal. Growth inhibitors must be used according to the
directions to be effective.

Don’t used products designated
for dogs on cats. Not all products are appropriate for all
ages or species.

JCHS
Provides the Health Care for Foster Animals

Protocol
for Adult Foster Cats

•test
for FeLV and FIV and evaluate if positive. (Asymptomatic or mildly
symptomatic cats who test FeLV-positive can throw off the disease,
but they usually stay with the veterinarian until they test negative.

• Asymptomatic
cats who test FIV-positive are not much of a risk for other cats
unless they deliver a deep bite. They must be kept separate at first to prevent bite opportunities from
but may live in the same room with others. Mildly symptomatic
cats usually stay with the veterinarian.)

Protocol
for Adult Foster Dogs

• test
for heart worm and evaluate for prophylaxis if necessary. (Dogs
who test positive may be able to withstand treatment, however, they
must stay inside away from mosquitoes and maintain a quiet lifestyle
for 6-8 weeks.)

Protocol
for Foster Kittens and Puppies

• test
cats for FeLV and FIV at 8-10 weeks of age and evaluate if
positive. (Asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic kittens who
test FeLV positive can throw off the disease, but they usually
stay with the veterinarian until they test negative.

• asymptomatic
kittens who test FIV positive are not much of a risk for other
cats unless they deliver a deep bite. They must be kept separate
from but may live in the same room with others. Mildly symptomatic
cats usually stay with the veterinarian.)

• test
dogs for heart worm at 6 months of age and evaluate for prophylaxis
if necessary. (Dogs who test positive may be able to withstand
treatment, however, they must stay inside away from mosquitoes
and maintain a quiet lifestyle for 6-8 weeks.)

Bringing
Your Foster Animal Home

The
transition period when animals are introduced to new surroundings
(whether these surroundings include other animals or not) has a
lasting, tone-setting potential. Its important to plan carefully.

• Initially,
limit your foster animal to one room (or a Kitty Haven or a kennel
within a separate room) instead of allowing access to the entire
house (which is often overwhelming).

Put
everything your foster animal needs (food and water dishes, bed,
toys, litter box, etc.) in this area. If there are other animals
in your home, keep the door shut. Make sure the foster animal
has enough quiet time to himself to explore and feel safe.

• Once
the animal seems comfortable in the original space and trusting
of you, expand her access a little at a time by making other rooms
available. If you already have pets, there are many methods of
introduction. Well work together to pick the one most appropriate
to your circumstances.

• If
your foster animal has not spent at least six days in isolation
at a veterinary clinic, keep her completely isolated (see above)
from other animals for six days.

• Consider
putting a screened door on your initial room (so the
animals canwhen they choose tosee
and sniff, but not hurt one another). Confining your foster animal
in a Kitty Haven or kennel within this room can also provide safe
see-and-sniff access to all.

• Introduce
the newbie to permanent residents under close supervision (not while
youre using the phone, watching TV, or reading, etc.). Use
short periods of time and aim to end on positive notes. You might
want to use a halter/leash at first to ensure safety.

• Be
aware that your natural tendency will be to lavish attention on
the newcomer. If you have other animals, try not to make a fuss
over the newbie while they are watching. Remember that they are
likely to feel jealous of the newcomer, so plan on spending some
extra-special quality time with them.

Tell them
how proud you are of them for helping you create a comfortable
place for the new animal to stay!

Maintaining
a Clean Household

Those of us
providing foster care need to be beyond reproach regarding
sanitation and efforts to reduce disease-causing organisms. This
may seem like a no-brainer, but peoples perceptions of clean
vary widely.

State law
specifies a number of provisions for the care of animals. We use
the regulations pertaining to animals in commercial establishments
as a standard. The specific chapter in the Code of Iowa is 162Care of Animals in Commercial
Establishments.

Although the
surfaces in our homes may differ (e.g., wood floors, carpeting,
sheet vinyl, etc.), we all have an equal amount of control over
the cleanliness of food and water dishes, litter boxes/scoops,
and the vertical and floor surfaces of Kitty Havens and kennels.

Animals are
innately disinclined to eliminate in their dens. We capitalize
on this when crate-training dogs or using a Kitty Haven to re-train
a cat to her litter box. It is important to note that animals
confined to close quarters are at greater risk for fecal/oral
bacterial contamination than those “at large” in our
homes.

Kitty Havens and kennels represent a significant investment
for our organization. Their upkeep is important. Although wire
surfaces are plated or painted, they will rust if they are exposed
to moisture for very long.

Cleansers
and Sanitizers

Washing and
sanitizing can be done in one step, depending on which product
you use. There are any number of cleaning products (many are cruelty
free) on the market. Read labels carefully.

• Fort
Dodge Labs sells a concentrated disinfecting product called Nolvasan,
which is used by many veterinarians. Keeping an appropriate dilution
in a spray bottle makes it convenient to use. We'll be happy to
outfit you with some.

• A
disinfecting solution effective on most viruses can be made using
household chlorine bleach diluted 1:32 with water (e.g., 1 cup
bleach to 2 gallons of water; 1/2 cup to 1 gal; 1/4 cup to 1/2
gal; 1/8 cup to 1/4 gal). A detergent (e.g., dishwashing liquid;
but not sudsing ammonia) can be added to improve the wetting action.

Mixing ammonia
with bleach results in a LETHAL gas—just don’t go there.
In addition, ammonia and urine have enough chemistry in common
to be cousins. Cats who are indiscriminate pee-ers are often
drawn to areas where ammonia has been used.

• Liquid
enzymatic digesters are designed to break down proteins
and fats (components of vomit, feces, blood, urine, etc.), thus
removing stains and odors. They may be used on a variety of surfaces
and in the washing machine.

No home with animals should be without
these enzymes! There is a fine line of enzyme products produced
and sold locally: Natures
Nonscents by Krueger Enterprises.

The Inspection/Evaluation Process

Don’t
allow your attitude toward this process scare you away from our
FosterCare Program! Yearly inspection and evaluation is to insure
the health and safety of the animals we care for.

It is not
to check up on your color scheme, paw through your freezer, or judge
how well youve been dusting. Think
of this as a learning experience rather than a test of your home
hygiene abilities.

We
conduct mock evaluations with new foster-caregivers-in-training.
In addition, the FosterCare Coordinator is present at every inspection/evaluation.

The
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has certified
two local veterinarians (Dennis Cowles, Coralville Animal Clinic
and Paul Cooper, The University of Iowa) to inspect/evaluate our
foster homes.